Three problems related to automatic transmission torque converter have been reported for the 1997 Mercury Sable. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
At about 100,000 easy highway miles, we had to replace the torque converter, then the entire transmission, plus for the last two years minor engine repairs to the tune of about $350 every other month, the window won't go down anymore, and now--4 months after the transmission replacement--we have lost overdrive and the engine light is on, again! we have never had a car with this many problems, and will never buy a Ford/Mercury anything again. Our suburban was more reliable.
When driving vehicle overheated which prevented clutch from going into gear. Also, passenger's side rear door would not open from either inside or outside. Consumer has contacted the dealer. The cam shaft sensor was broken. The torque converter failure.
Transmission fails pulling out in traffic, when I bought the car they denied it until I made manager drive w/me they rebuilt it free, after fighting with them, I did not have the car a week. They rebuilt it, 1 yr later happened again, said cannot find anything, took it to another dealer, said they always have problems with transmission in these due to the torque converter too strong for the transmission. They know they made a mistake. Oil is black, they know something is wrong but they are not going to recall because they would have to recall the car.